Mourning masculinities: death, Dickens, and pathological melancholia

As Mr Dombey contemplates the prospect of his wife's death, following the birth of his son and heir, Dickens notes that 'he certainly had a sense within him, that if his wife should sicken and decay, he would be very sorry, and that he would find a something gone from among his plate and furniture, and other household possessions, which was well worth the having, and could not be lost without sincere regret. Though it would be a cool, business-like, gentlemanly, self-possessed regret, no doubt.'..